Wearable article with multi-frequency wireless communication

ABSTRACT

A wearable article, system, and methods may include a structure configured to enclose a human body part. A first antenna, positioned with respect to the structure, is tuned to communicate, while the wearable article is being worn, according to a first wireless communication modality with a first external antenna. A second antenna, positioned with respect to the structure, is tuned to communicate according to a second wireless communication modality with a second external antenna different than the first external antenna, the second communication modality being different than the first communication modality. A transceiver, coupled to at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna, is configured to communicate via one of the first and second antennas based, at least in part, on the one of the first and second antennas coming into wireless communication contact with a corresponding one of the first and second external antennas.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application is a U.S. National Stage Filing Under 35 U.S.C.371 from International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2016/034705,filed May 27, 2016, published on Dec. 8, 2016 as WO2016/196310, whichclaims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/168,189, filed on May 29, 2015, both of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to a wearablearticle configured for multi-frequency wireless communication in anintegrated wireless environment.

BACKGROUND

Radio frequency identification (REID) systems have been incorporatedinto wearable articles, such as footwear, shirts, pants, hats, and thelike, and other goods and items to provide item tracking for operationssuch as inventory tracking and the like. For instance, a passive REIDtag may be attached to an article of apparel. The RFID tag may beenergized by an RFID tag reader remotely as the RFID tag passes throughstations in, for instance, a supply chain and within a store. In thatway, the article of apparel may be tracked and inventory updatedappropriately without necessarily requiring human intervention toconduct the tracking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cutaway depiction of a wearable article, in an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RF communication system of a wearablearticle, in an example embodiment.

FIGS. 3A-3F are images of a wearable article, showing example locationsof one or both of a first antenna and a second antenna, in an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 4 is block system diagram of an integrated wireless environment, inan example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side depiction of an integrated wireless environment, in anexample embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an overhead depiction of an integrated wireless environment,in an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a depiction of a user interface, in an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for communicating between a wearable article and awireless system in an integrated wireless environment, in an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and systems are directed to a wearable articleconfigured for multi-frequency wireless communication in an integratedwireless environment. Examples merely typify possible variations. Unlessexplicitly stated otherwise, components and functions are optional andmay be combined or subdivided, and operations may vary in sequence or becombined or subdivided. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of example embodiments. It will be evident to oneskilled in the art, however, that the present subject matter may bepracticed without these specific details.

Comparatively simple use cases of inventory tracking using RFID arepossible in part because articles of apparel, for instance, presentlittle impediment to the transmittal of wireless signals conventionallyused in RFID tags. Various substances and materials, including water andother constituent parts of humans, animals, and clothing, among otherthings, may be impermeable or otherwise inhibiting of wireless signalsin the 900 MHz bands that are normally tuned for transmission throughair. Thus, such RFID tags or other wireless transmitters in the 900 MHzbands may be of substantially reduced range and effectivity while thearticle of apparel is actually being worn on a person's body. The sameapplies to different surfaces that may commonly be found in variousenvironments such as buildings and public spaces, including flooring,shelving, electronics, and the like.

As such, the use of RFID technology in a wearable article that isconventionally used for inventory tracking may be of limited use whenthe wearable article is being worn by a user in integrated wirelessenvironments, such as stores and entertainment complexes. A wearablearticle has been developed along with an accompanying integratedwireless environment that allows for rich RF communication from antennaslocated in the wearable article. Because of the wireless communicationprovided by the wearable article, the integrated wireless environmentprovides data transfer to and from the wearable article, allowing forpersonalized greetings and recommendations and tracking of the wearablearticle.

The wearable article provides multiple antennas for wirelesscommunication. One antenna is a UHF antenna for communication in the 900MHz bands that is not tuned to the presence of an animal body. A secondantenna is a UHF antenna for communication in the 900 MHz bands that istuned to the presence of an animal body. In various examples, only thebody-tuned UHF antenna is included. In further examples, a third antennais tuned to communicate in bands around 13.5 MHz or according to otherwireless communication standards. The various antennas may be controlledand either actively or passively coordinated to prevent interferencebetween one another by a single transmitter circuit.

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a wearable article 100, including componentscontained within the wearable article 100 and not necessarily visiblefrom perspective illustrated, in an example embodiment. As illustrated,the wearable article 100 is an article of footwear, specifically a shoe.However, it is to be understood that while the principles describedherein are with specific reference to the wearable article 100, theprinciples described herein may be applied to any suitable article ofapparel, without limitation.

The wearable article 100 includes a structure 102 including an outsole104 designed to come into contact with a surface, such as the ground ora floor, an insole 106 configured to seat a human foot, an upper section108 configured to enclose the human foot, and a tongue 110 configured tofacilitate securing the wearable article 100 to the human foot via laces112. The outsole 104 and/or the insole 106 may be configured within amiddle section 114 to seat and secure the arch of a human foot. It is tobe recognized that this is a simplified depiction of a conventionalarticle of footwear and that various articles of footwear mayincorporate any of a variety of components or features. Further, certainarticles of apparel 100 may not incorporate all of these features or mayinclude these features in other formats (e.g., a sandal may incorporatethe outsole 104 and a reconfigured upper section 106 and no insole 106,tongue 110, and laces 112). It is contemplated that the principlesdisclosed herein will be applicable and adaptable to any of a range ofarticles of apparel 100.

The wearable article 100 further includes a radio frequency (“RF”)communication circuit 116. The RF communication circuit 116 mayincorporate some conventional features of RFID tags known in the art aswell as the various features disclosed herein. As illustrated, the RFcommunication circuit 116 is positioned within the middle section 114,seated within and enclosed by the outsole 104. However, in variousexamples the RF communication circuit 116 may be positioned between theoutsole 104 and insole 106, within and enclosed by the insole 106,within the upper section 108, such as on a side of the article ofapparel, or within the tongue 110.

Ultra high frequency (UHF) wireless communication may vary in operationfrequency between and among certain countries, but in general may beunderstood to occur over the range of approximately 300 megahertz (MHz)to approximately three (3) gigahertz (GHz). Certain regions throughoutthe world utilize a variety different of industrial, scientific, andmedical (ISM) bands for UHF communications. Certain ISM bands arecentered around approximately 900 MHz, with the center frequencies ofthose bands falling generally within the range of approximately 869 MHzto approximately 915 MHz.

The ISM bands and other regional and international communication bandsclustered around approximately 900 MHz (herein after “the 900 MHzbands”) may be useful in a variety of circumstances, including but notlimited to radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, chips, and thelike, as known in the art. An RFID tag with a UHF antenna that ispositioned in a shirt, for instance, may communicate to a suitable rangein directions away from the body of the wearer of the shirt but may notcommunicate in directions that pass through the wearer. An RFID tag in ashoe may be effectively unable to communicate at all while the shoe isbeing worn if the tag is in the sole or heel of the shoe. Even if theRFID tag is positioned higher in the shoe, such as in the tongue,effective communication may still be limited both by the presence of thefoot and the proximity of the tag to the ground. Circumstances in whichRFID tags are attached to a shoe intentionally place the RFID at adistinct distance from the foot of the wearer to maintain the ability tocommunicate at an effective distance.

Actions taken to tune a UHF antenna to communicate effectively through ahuman body may, however, reduce the effectivity of the UHF antenna whenthe article of apparel is not being worn by a person. Additionally, thecircumstances of wearing the article of apparel may place the UHFantenna away from the body, in the case of an overly-large shirt, forinstance. Thus, to tune the antenna to the body of the wearer may resultin reduced effectiveness under the circumstances in which the article ofapparel isn't being worn.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an RF communication system 200 of thewearable article 100, in an example embodiment. In an example, the RFcommunication system 200 includes a first antenna 118 that is tuned totransmit UHF signals effectively through air and a second antenna 122that is configured to communicate according to high frequency (HF)and/or near field communication (NFC) at approximately 13.5 MHz. In anexample, the first antenna 118 is configured to communicate according toa UHF standard, including any one or more of Gen2 or ISO18000-6C (againincluding versions of those standards that are past, current, or thatmay be developed). In an example, the second antenna 120 is configuredto communicate according to any one or more standards includingISO14443B, ISO1443A NFC Type 4, and ISO 15693 (including contemporaryand previous versions of those standards as well as versions of thosestandards that are yet to be promulgated or adopted).

The RF communication circuit 116 further includes first and secondtransceivers 122, 124 each individually coupled to a respective one ofthe antennas 118, 120 and configured to communicate according to thewireless modality of the corresponding antenna 118, 120. Eachtransceiver 122, 124 may include componentry such as a voltage rectifierand a modulator as appropriate for the respective antenna 118, 120. Thetransceivers 122, 124 are coupled to an electronic data storage 126,such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(“EEPROM”) circuit, non-volatile read-only memory, or read/write memorycircuit, such as various types of random access memory (“RAM”) known inthe art, and an optional controller 128. In various implementations,individual ones of the transceivers 122, 124 may be combined as or witha single transceiver, such as the transceiver 122, providingtransmitting and receiving functionality for multiple antennas. In anexample, the electronic data storage 126 includes a unique identifier ofthe wearable article 100 among other information as desired and providesfor a unified memory module for data that may be transmitted by andstored from the transceivers 122, 124.

In various examples, the wearable article 100 includes one or moresensors, such as an accelerometer or step counter, among a variety ofother sensors or other data gathering implements known in the art. Thosesensors may store information to the electronic data storage 126 duringuse of the wearable article 100 by a wearer. Thus, for instance, theelectronic data storage 126 may store a number of steps taken during thelife of the article of apparel as well as additional information abouthow and when the wearable article 100 has been used. As will bedisclosed herein, that information may be transmitted by the RFcommunication system 200 for use in interacting with a wearer of thewearable article 100, particularly when the article of apparel is withinan integrated wireless environment.

The RF communication system 200 as illustrated is a passive RFcommunication system 200 and, as a result, draws energy from received RFsignals rather than an internal power source or supply, such as abattery or energy harvesting system. However, various examples of the RFcommunication system 200 may be active and incorporate an internal powersource or supply and relatively power intensive componentry notillustrated. herein.

As illustrated, the RF communication system 200 includes the controller126 and the electronic data storage 128 as well as the second antenna120 as components of the RF communication circuit 116. As such, in anexample, the second antenna 120, controller 126, and electronic datastorage 128 are on a single substrate. In such an example, the firstantenna 118 is located remote to the RF communication circuit 116 but iscoupled to the RF communication circuit 116 with a conductor that passesthrough a structure of the wearable article 100. In the illustratedexample, the controller 126 and electronic data storage 128 provide aunified system for the operation of both of the transceivers 122, 124.

In an alternative example, the RF communication circuit 116 does notinclude the first transceiver 116. In such an example, the first antenna118 and the first transceiver 112 are located along with a separatecontroller and/or electronic data storage on a separate substrate or REtag. In such an example, RE communication system 200 includes twoseparate and independent subsystems, each configured to communicateaccording to a different communication modality with separatecomponents. Additionally or alternatively, the separate systems may becoupled to one another and coordinate, such as by sharing electronicdata, but otherwise may operate separately and independently.

FIGS. 3A-3F are images of the wearable article 100, showing examplelocations of one or both of the first antenna 118 and the second antenna120, in an example embodiment. The positions of the antennas 118, 120illustrated are non-limiting and it is to be recognized and understoodthat various alternative or additional locations are contemplated.Furthermore, individual implementations of the wearable article 100 mayutilize any combination of locations of the antennas 118, 120. Each ofthese implementations are designed and configured to allow for wirelesscommunications at useful and typical ranges for their representativemodalities, including when the wearable article 100 is being worn by auser.

In FIG. 3A, the first antenna 118 is positioned in the heel 300. In sucha configuration, when the wearable article 100 is flexed as from takinga normal step the first antenna 118 is presented generally upward. As aresult, during a normal step the first antenna 118 may be exposed toanother antenna that may be above the wearer of the wearable article100. Owing to UHF communications conventionally having a range of tensof feet or five or more meters, the first antenna 118 may communicatewith antennas that are positioned at a moderate distance from thewearable article 100. Thus, as the wearer of the wearable article 100moves around an integrated wireless environment disclosed herein, thefirst antenna 118 may tend to regularly be exposed to antennas that arepositioned both overhead and to the side of the wearable article 100.

In FIG. 3B, the first antenna 118 is positioned in the midsole 302region of the outsole 104. In such an example, the first antenna 118 maybe tuned to transmit UHF signals effectively through a human body (see,e.g., Santiago et al, “Broadband UHF RFID Passive Tag Antenna forNear-Body Applications”, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters,Vol. 12, (2013), pp. 136-139, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety). As a result, the first antenna 118 may maintain an effectivetransmission range despite transmitting through the foot of a wearer ofthe wearable article 100.

In FIG. 3C, the first antenna 118 is positioned on a side 304 of thewearable article 100. In an example, the first antenna 118 is formed inthe shape of a decorative element or a brand logo. Thus, in such anexample, the first antenna 118 may comprise the decorative elementitself or may be positioned behind or otherwise be obscured by thedecorative element with the decorative element not itself necessarilybeing an antenna.

In FIG. 3D, the second antenna 120 is positioned on or in the tongue 110of the wearable article 100. In an example, the positioning of thesecond antenna 120 in the tongue 110 may allow for the second antenna120 to communicate according to the HF ISO 15693 modality through thewearable article 100 to the another HF antenna positioned in the floor,a mat, or a walking surface in general as well as communicate with HFantennas that may be positioned a relatively short distance above or tothe side of the wearable article 100. In an example, the second antenna120 may communicate with HF antennas that are approximately one foot orthirty centimeters above the tongue 110, e.g., that may be positioned ina counter a wearer may walk up to or a desk at which the wearer may sit.

In FIG. 3E, the second antenna is positioned on the side 304 of thewearable article 100. In an example, the second antenna 120 is formed inthe shape of the decorative element 306 or brand logo. Thus, in such anexample, the second antenna 120 may comprise the decorative elementitself or may be positioned behind or otherwise be obscured by thedecorative element with the decorative element not itself necessarilybeing an antenna.

In FIG. 3F, the first antenna 118 and the second antenna 120 arecombined on the side 304 of the wearable article 100 in the form of thedecorative element or brand logo. In such an example, the first antenna118 may form a first portion of the decorative element and the secondantenna 120 may form a second portion of the decorative element.Alternatively, the decorative element may be formed from one of theantennas 118, 120 while the other of the antennas 118, 120 is positionedbehind or otherwise in part obscured by the decorative element.

FIG. 4 is block system diagram 400 of an integrated wirelessenvironment, in an example embodiment. The block system diagram 400describes a system that is configured to provide wireless communicationwith one or more articles of apparel 100 concurrently. The block systemdiagram 400 is scalable to include as many components as may be usefulor necessary to provide desired bandwidth and spatial coverage withinthe integrated wireless environment.

The block system diagram 400 includes antennas 402, including firstexternal antennas 402A, such as UHF antennas 402A, configured tocommunicate with the first antenna 118, and second external antennas402B, such as HF antennas 402B, configured to communicate with thesecond antenna 120. In an example, sixteen antennas 402 are included inthe system 400. It is to be recognized and understood that theparticular modalities the antennas 402 are configured for may beselected based on the modalities of the first and second antennas 118,120. Furthermore, as various implementations of the wearable article 100may utilize different modalities for the first and second antennas 118,120, resulting in more than two modalities potentially being utilizedwithin the integrated wireless environment at once, it is to berecognized and understood that the antennas 402 may be configured withthree or more modalities.

Each antenna 402 is coupled to a wireless transceiver 404 configuredtransmit wireless signals to and receive wireless signals from one orboth of the antennas 118. 120 via an associated one of the antennas 402.In various examples, multiple antennas 402 may be coupled to a singlewireless transceiver 404. For instance, multiple HF antennas 402B thatare collocated in a floor mat or other object may be coupled to a singlewireless transceiver 404 which may allow those collocated antennas 402to operate in close conjunction with one another. In an example, eachantenna 402 is coupled to a wireless transceiver via a fifty Ohm cable.The wireless transceivers 404 are coupled to a communication hub 406. Invarious examples, the communication hub 406 is one or more of auniversal serial bus (USB) hub, a wireless network router, a wirednetwork router, and the like.

The communication hub 406 is coupled to a computing device 408, such asa personal computer, a server, and the like, configured to control theoperation of the components of the system diagram 400. In an example,each wireless transceiver 404 is uniquely identified and independentlyaddressable by the computing device 408. The computing device 408 isconfigured to independently select, activate, or deactivate eachwireless transceiver 404.

The computing device 408 may incorporate two modes of operation of thewireless transceivers 404, a single mode and a continuous mode. In thesingle mode, a discrete command, whether entered by a user or based on apredetermined condition having been met, causes the computing device 408to sequentially instruct the wireless transceivers 404 to power on an RFfield via an associated antenna 402, attempt an interrogation, and thenpower the RF field off. In an example, only one wireless transceiver 404is powered on at any given time. In an example, any or all HF antennas402B may be powered on at once while only one UHF antenna 402A may bepowered on at once. Upon cycling through each wireless transceiver 404,the computing device 408 may catalog a unique identifier of eachwearable article 100 interrogated by the wireless transceivers 404. Bycontrast, in the continuous mode, the computing device 408 continuouslyrepeats the single mode cycles.

The computing device 408 includes a user interface 410 configured todisplay information and allow a user to set operating modes of thesystem. In an example, the user interface 410 is configured to display:a list of connected interrogated articles of apparel 100; connectedarticles of apparel 100 sensed wireless power levels (or received signalstrength indication (RSSI)); which wireless transceiver 404 haveconnected with which articles of apparel 100; a unique identifier ofeach connected wearable article 100; and other information as may bedesired. In an example, the user interface 410 is configured to allow auser to select: placing each wireless transceiver 404 individually inactive or inactive mode; placing the system in single or continuousmode; a system start for wireless interrogation; and a system stop forwireless interrogation. The user interface 410 may further includevisual or audio indications of connecting with the wearable article 100,such as a tone, light, or other suitable mechanism.

The computing device 408 may include or may access a database includinginformation regarding purchasers of the wearable article 100. Thedatabase may include as much information about such purchasers as may beaccumulated within the bounds of privacy laws and other standards. Thus,the information on purchasers may include personal information, such asa name, age or age range, area of residence, personal activity (e.g., asobtained from an activity tracker device that may be included in thewearable article 100 or that may be included in a different device),personal purchase history or use of activities in or otherwise relatedto the integrated wireless environment, and credit card or other paymentinformation from past purchases. The purchase history may include thewearable article 100 and/or any other items that may be entered into thedatabase. The information included here is presented by way ofillustration and not limitation and it is to be readily understood thatthe information that may be accessible by the computing device 408 maybe expansive, as appropriate to the circumstances.

FIG. 5 is a side depiction of an integrated wireless environment 500, inan example embodiment. The side depiction illustrates the relativepositioning of antennas 402 within the integrated wireless environment500 and is not necessarily representative of an actual layout ofantennas 402 and other items within the integrated wireless environment500.

In an example, the HF antennas 402B are seated or configured to beseated in a floor mat 502, a desk or a counter 504, or any object on,in, or within approximately one foot or thirty centimeters of a floor506 or other walking surface. The HF antennas 402B and the componentscoupled to and configured to utilize signals from the HF antennas 402Bare configured to detect the presence of the second antenna 120 incommunication proximity of an HF antenna 402B within approximately 0.5seconds of the second antenna 120 coming into communication range of theHF antenna 402B. The UHF antennas 402A are positioned or configured tobe positioned on a ceiling 508, wall 510, or support member 512 withinapproximately six to twenty feet or two to seven meters of a floor 506or walking surface.

A user interface 514 is configured to display messages to a wearer ofthe wearable article 100 after one or more of the antennas 402 haveconnected with an antenna 118, 120 of the wearable article 100. A willbe disclosed herein, the user interface 514 may be visible to the wearerof the wearable article 100 and may present messages related to thewearable article 100 or the wearer personally, including product oractivity recommendations, directions within the integrated wirelessenvironment, and so forth.

FIG. 6 is an overhead depiction of the integrated wireless environment500, in an example embodiment. The integrated wireless environment 500as illustrated is a store or other commercial environment, though it isto be understood that the principles disclosed herein apply to anyenvironment in which communication may be desired with the wearablearticle 100 being worn by people in the environment, such as sporting orcultural events. The integrated wireless environment 500 as illustratedis a space enclosed by walls 510, though it is to be understood that theintegrated wireless environment 500 may include open-air spaces orspaces that are otherwise not clearly bounded.

The integrated wireless environment 500 includes general wirelesscoverage 600 provided by the UHF antennas 402A. The UHF antennas 402Aare positioned throughout the integrated wireless environment 500 toprovide such wireless coverage 600 substantially, though not necessarilycompletely, throughout the integrated wireless environment 500. As such,while “dead zones” 602 having no or unreliable wireless coverage mayexist, in general as a wearer passes through the integrated wirelessenvironment the first antenna 118 may always or substantially always bein communication with UHF antennas 402A.

The integrated wireless environment 500 further include local wirelesscoverage provided by the HF antennas 402B. Examples are contemplated inwhich HF antennas 402B may be spread throughout the integrated wirelessenvironment 500 with a density such that HF communication may begenerally available. As illustrated, however, HF coverage corresponds todiscrete locations 604 in the integrated wireless environment 500.Examples of such discrete locations include doors 604A or otherentrance/exit points, kiosks 604B for the presentation of various goodsand services or the provision of games or information, and point of salecounters 604C or other interaction locations, among any of a variety ofdiscrete locations that may be incorporated within an integratedwireless environment 500.

As illustrated, multiple HF antennas 402B are included in mats 502 orfloor units in general, among other objects as disclosed herein. As thewearable article 100 passes over the mat 502 the second antenna 120 maycome into communicative contact with some or all of the individual HFantennas 402B. Coming into communicative contact with any one or more ofthe individual HF antennas 402B may be sufficient to establishcommunication with the wearable article 100 for a discrete location 604.

The UHF antennas 402A may provide location information regarding thearticle of apparel. For instance, conventional triangulation techniquesmay be utilized in circumstances where multiple UHF antennas 402A coverthe same area in the integrated wireless environment. At minimum,knowing which UHF antenna. 402A is in communicative contact with thewearable article 100 allows the system 400 to know a general area inwhich the wearable article 100 is located.

In various examples, the UHF antennas 402A may provide generalcommunication availability with the wearable article 100 while the HFantennas 402B provide location-specific communication with the wearablearticle 100. Thus, the HF antennas 402B may be utilized to identify whenthe wearable article 100 is in particular locations, i.e., the discretelocations 604, and provide for a direct experience for the wearer of thearticle of apparel, such as messages or other potential interactionswith the wearer based on those discrete locations 604.

The integrated wireless environment 500 includes user interfaces 514, inthe illustrated example. The user interfaces 514 include visual displaysas well as optional audio or other sensory outputs. In various examples,the user interfaces 514 are comparatively small-scale 514A and designedto be viewed at a range of one or two meters or less and/or arelarge-scale 514B designed to be viewed at a range of six or seven metersor more.

In such examples, the UHF antennas 402A may provide general informationabout the presence and location of the wearable article 100.Interactions with the wearer of the wearable article 100 on the basis ofinformation from the UHF antennas 402A may be in relatively large-scaleuser interfaces 514, such as visual and audio messages that may besuitable for experience not only by the wearer of the wearable article100 but other people who may be in the vicinity of the wearer. Forinstance, the user interface 514 may, on the basis of communication viathe UHF antennas 402A, display or otherwise broadcast a generic messagecomplimenting the wearer for wearing the wearable article 100, offeringa reward or discount on a purchase for wearing the wearable article 100,or other message that would not necessarily be viewed as private by mostwearers of the wearable article 100.

By contrast, communication by the HF antenna 402B with the wearablearticle 100 may be utilized to produce small-scale experiences on userinterfaces 514 at the discrete location 604 corresponding to the HFantenna. 402B. Thus, the user interface 514 may display personalizedgreetings, information about the wearable article 100 and the wearer'suse thereof that may not necessarily be for public consumption, such asa number of steps or other use-pattern information, suggested purchasesor activities based on the use of the wearable article 100 and pastpurchases by the wearer, and so forth.

The HF antennas 402B may further be utilized to facilitate richer oradditional interactions with the wearer of the wearable article 100. Forinstance, the computing device 408 may access the database correspondingto the purchaser of the wearable article 100 or a user to whom theownership of the wearable article 100 has been transferred. If the dataconcerning the wearable article 100 includes credit card or bank accountinformation the wearable article 100 may be utilized in conjunction withthe HF antennas 402B to make purchases at kiosks 604B or point-of-salecounters 6040, whether by interacting directly with the user interface514 in that location 604 or by engaging in a predetermined activity withthe wearable article 100 (e.g., tapping the wearable article 100 on theground in a predetermined pattern, etc.).

Thus, in general, the UHF antennas 402A may be utilized to obtain aunique identification of the wearable article 100 to identify thepresence of the wearable article 100 in the integrated wirelessenvironment 500. The UHF antennas 402A may further facilitate generaland relatively public interactions with the wearable article 100 and thewearer thereof. Privacy and anonymity may be of significantconsideration in conducting such interactions.

By contrast, the HF antennas 402B may tend to provide for locationtracking of the wearable article 100 between and among the discretelocations 604 and personalized interactions via the user interfaces 514at those locations. The HF antennas 402B may facilitate providingpersonal information, such as sensor data from the wearable article 100,and personalized recommendations. Thus, the user interface 514 at onediscrete location 604 may recommend for purchase a product at adifferent kiosk 604B based on the use pattern of the wearable article100 as transmitted from the wearable article 100 to the computing device408, whether directly or by way of the database, as disclosed herein.

Both the UHF antennas 402A and the HF antennas 402B are or may beconfigured to receive all of the same information from the wearablearticle 100. The corollary to that is both the first and second antennas118, 120 are or may be configured to transmit all of the sameinformation. However, the system 400 may be configured to utilize thatinformation differently, allow different levels of access to additionalinformation stored in databases, and/or restrict messages on the userinterfaces 514 based on which of the antennas 402 are actually incommunication with the wearable article 100.

FIG. 7 is a depiction of the user interface 514, in an exampleembodiment. The user interface 514 includes a visual display 700 and anaudio emitter 702. In various examples, only one or the other of thevisual display 700 and the audio emitter 702 are included. In anexample, the user interface 514 includes a user input device 704, suchas a touch screen, keyboard, or other electronic data entry systems.

As disclosed herein, the user interface 514 may be sized and implementedaccording to the circumstances in which the user interface 514 is used.Thus, the user interface 514 may be configured to be viewed or heard atsome distance, such as a public video board that may be viewedthroughout or from a large area of the integrated wireless environment500. The user interface 514 may alternatively be sized, such as on anormal computer display or small television set, to be interacted withat a discrete location 604 in a way that may not be readily discerned bypeople in the area other than a specifically-intended recipient of amessage.

The large-scale implementations of the user interface 514 may display ortransmit audio messages that may be anonymous or that may convey littleor no more information than may be readily publicly perceptible. Thus,when a UHF antenna 402A detects a wearable article 100 in the vicinityof the user interface 514, and the wearable article 100 is Model X shoe,the user interface 514 may display a message: “Nice Model X's. If youlike those, you'll love the Model Y's right over here” and refer to alocation 604 in the integrated wireless environment where the Model Yarticles of apparel 100 can be obtained. Thus, the message from agenerally viewed user interface 514 may not tend to directly identifythe wearer of the wearable article 100 or give information other thanwhat might be obtained simply by visually observing the wearable article100 in use.

The small-scale implementation of the user interface 514 may display orotherwise convey the same or similar messages as the large-scaleimplementations. However, the small-scale implementation of the userinterface 514 in conjunction with the localized HF antenna 402Bcommunications may allow for more personal and private messages to bedisplayed. For instance, the message may include a personalizedgreeting: “Nice Model X's, John Doe. If you like those, . . . ” Thegreetings may include information about the use of the article ofapparel: “You've taken 250,000 steps in the last two months. Way to go!”or “You've taken 750,000 steps in your Model X's. You should think abouta new pair.”

The small-scale messages may be directly related to a proposedtransaction. In various examples, the system 400 may allow purchasesthat are authenticated based on the identification of the wearablearticle 100. Thus, by obtaining the unique identifier of the wearablearticle 100, purchases may be made by a wearer of the wearable article100 that may be charged to an associated credit card, bank account, orother financial implement. Thus, at a kiosk 604B, for instance, a wearerof the wearable article 100 may select a new product, e.g., the ModelY's, variously by selecting the Model Y's via the user interface 514, bypicking up the Model Y's and positioning them relative to an HF antenna604, or by any other suitable mechanism. In such an example, the userinterface 514 may prompt the wearer of the wearable article 100 whetheror not the wearer wants to purchase the Model Y's and the wearer mayvariously accept or decline the transaction by using a touch interfaceor other user input device 704 or by otherwise engaging in an activitythat may be detected by the system 400 and used to approve or reject theproposed transaction.

The messages that are described herein as being displayed may beprovided to users in any suitable form including audio forms, such asspoken messages. Messages may include a combination of visual and audioprompts, among other sensory inputs. Thus, it is to be understood thatthe descriptions of the user interface 514 may extend to be relativelyimmersive or expansive multimedia presentations.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 for communicating between the wearable article100 and the wireless system 400 in the integrated wireless environment500, in an example embodiment. While the flowchart is described withrespect to the wearable article 100 and the wireless system 400, it isto be understood that the operations in the flowchart may be implementedby any suitable devices and systems.

At 802, a wearer optionally puts on the wearable article 100. In anexample where the wearable article 100 is a pair of shoes, the wearersecures the shoes to their feet. Thus, while not necessarily required,the following operations may be performed while the wearable article 100is being worn and utilized in its conventional way.

At 804, the user of the wearable article 100 enters or approaches theintegrated wireless environment 500. In an example, the user enters bywalking or otherwise passing through the entrance 604A.

At 806, the wireless system 400 connects wirelessly according to one ormore of the wireless modalities supported by the first and secondantennas 118, 120. In various examples, the first antenna 118communicates according to a UHF modality and wirelessly connects with atleast one UHF antenna 402A. In various examples, upon first entering orleaving the integrated wireless environment 500, the second antenna 120communicates according to an HF modality and wirelessly connects with atleast one HF antenna 402B positioned in a floor mat 502 positioned atthe entrance 604A. As the user moves around the integrated wirelessenvironment 500, different and/or additional antennas 402 may connectwirelessly with the antennas 118, 120 of the wearable article 100.

At 808, the wearable article 100 transmits data from the electronic datastorage 128 to the wireless system 400. The data includes a uniqueidentifier of the wearable article 100 as well as any additionalinformation as may be appropriate, as disclosed herein. In an example,the additional information includes use information of the wearablearticle 100. In an example where the wearable article 100 is one or moreshoes, the additional information may be a number of steps taken in thewearable article 100 and a time and manner of use of the wearablearticle 100.

At 810, the computing device 408 accesses a database based on the uniqueidentifier of the article of apparel and obtains information about thewearable article 100. Such information may include a make and model ofthe wearable article 100, an identification of a purchaser of thewearable article 100, a current owner or user associated with thewearable article 100 if different from the purchaser, a purchase historyof the purchaser and/or owner, previously obtained use information ofthe wearable article 100 and other items that have been purchased by thepurchaser/user, demographic information of the purchaser/user, and soforth.

At 812, the computing device 408 determines if messages or otherinteractions with the user of the wearable article 100 should beprivate. The determination may be based, at least in part, on thewireless modality of the antenna 402 that has made connected with thewearable article 100. Thus, in an example, if the modality is relativelylong range UHF communications then the interactions are not private andthe flowchart 800 proceeds to 814. If the modality is relatively shortrange HF communications then the interactions should be private and theflowchart proceeds to 816.

At 814, the computing device 408 causes a user interface 514 to displayor otherwise provide a public or otherwise non-private, large-scalemessage to the user. The non-private or otherwise public message may bedisplayed or otherwise provided on or by a large-scale user interface600. As disclosed herein, such messages may include relatively little orno personal or private information about the user of the wearablearticle 100 that the user may not desire to be seen by other people whoare in the integrated wireless environment 500. After displaying thepublic message, the flowchart 800 may proceed back to 806 and wait for afurther wireless connection with the wearable article 100.

At 816, the computing device 408 causes a user interface 514 to displayor otherwise provide a private or otherwise non-public, small-scalemessage to the user. The message may be displayed or otherwise providedon or by a small-scale user interface 600. The private message mayinclude personal information about the user or information that the userdoes not necessarily want to be seen by other people.

At 818, the computing device 408 may determine if a transaction, such aspurchasing an item or service at a kiosk 604B, should be prompted orotherwise initiated. In an example, the determination may be automaticto prompt a user at a kiosk 604B. Alternatively, the determination maybe based on factors relating to the user and the wearable article 100.For instance, the determination may be based on the wearable article 100being recommended for replacement or based on demographic and purchasehistory of the user. Further alternatively, the determination may bebased on a request by the user to begin a transaction via the userinterface 514. If the computing device 408 determines that a transactionshould not be prompted then the flowchart 800 proceeds back to 806 andwait for a further wireless connection with the wearable article 100.

At 820, if a transaction is prompted, the computing device 408 conductsthe transaction based, at least in part, on authentication of thetransaction based on the unique identifier of the wearable article 100previously obtained from the article of apparel at 808. The flowchart800 proceeds back to 806 and wait for a further wireless connection withthe wearable article 100.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 900,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine900 in the example form of a computer system and within whichinstructions 924 (e.g., software) for causing the machine 900 to performany one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.In alternative embodiments, the machine 900 operates as a standalonedevice or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In anetworked deployment, the machine 900 may operate in the capacity of aserver machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 900 may be a server computer, a clientcomputer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a web appliance, a networkrouter, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting the instructions 924, sequentially or otherwise, that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude a collection of machines that individually or jointly executethe instructions 924 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g., a central processingunit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor(DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aradio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), or any suitable combinationthereof), a main memory 904, and a static memory 906, which areconfigured to communicate with each other via a bus 908. The machine 900may further include a graphics display 910 (e.g., a plasma display panel(PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display(LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The machine 900 mayalso include an alphanumeric input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), acursor control device 914 (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, ajoystick, a motion sensor, or other pointing instrument), a storage unit916, a signal generation device 918 (e.g., a speaker), and a networkinterface device 920.

The storage unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922 on which isstored the instructions 924 (e.g., software) embodying any one or moreof the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 924may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 904, within the processor 902 (e.g., within the processor's cachememory), or both, during execution thereof by the machine 900.Accordingly, the main memory 904 and the processor 902 may be consideredas machine-readable media. The instructions 924 may be transmitted orreceived over a network 926 via the network interface device 920.

As used herein, the term “memory” refers to a machine-readable mediumable to store data temporarily or permanently and may be taken toinclude, but not be limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory, ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), andcache memory. The term “machine-readable medium” should be taken toinclude a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, or associated caches and servers) able to storeinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium, or combination of multiple media, that is capable ofstoring instructions (e.g., software) for execution by a machine, suchthat the instructions, when executed by one or more processors of themachine, cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies described herein. Accordingly, a “machine-readable medium”refers to a single storage apparatus or device, as well as “cloud-based”storage systems or storage networks that include multiple storageapparatus or devices. The teen “machine-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, one or more datarepositories in the form of a solid-state memory, an optical medium, amagnetic medium, or any suitable combination thereof.

EXAMPLES

In Example 1, an article of apparel optionally includes a structureconfigured to enclose a human body part, a first antenna, positionedwith respect to the structure, tuned to communicate, while the articleof apparel is being worn, according to a first wireless communicationmodality with a first external antenna, a second antenna, positionedwith respect to the structure, tuned to communicate according to asecond wireless communication modality with a second external antennadifferent than the first external antenna, the second communicationmodality being different than the first communication modality, and atransceiver, operatively coupled to at least one of the first antennaand the second antenna, configured to communicate via one of the firstand second antennas based, at least in part, on the one of the first andsecond antennas coming into wireless communication contact with acorresponding one of the first and second external antennas.

In Example 2, the article of apparel of Example 1 optionally furtherincludes that the first wireless communication modality is an ultra highfrequency (UHF) communication modality.

In Example 3, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1and 2 optionally further includes that the second wireless communicationmodality is a high frequency (HF) communication modality.

In Example 4, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-3optionally further includes an electronic data storage, operativelycoupled to the transceiver, the electronic data storage configured tostore a unique identifier associated with the article of apparel, andwherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifierupon communicating via the one of the first and second antennas.

In Example 5, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-4optionally further includes that the electronic data storage is furtherconfigured to store information generated by the use of the article ofapparel related to the use of the article of apparel.

In Example 6, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-5optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the indication generated by the use of the articleof apparel are steps taken in the article of footwear.

In Example 7, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-6optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear, wherein the structure includes a heel of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the heel.

In Example 8, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-7optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear, wherein the structure includes a sole of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the sole.

In Example 9, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-8optionally further includes that the article of apparel comprises adecorative element comprising the first antenna.

In Example 10, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples 1-9optionally further includes that the decorative element furthercomprises the second antenna.

In Example 11, the article of apparel of any one or more of Examples1-10 optionally further includes that the article of apparel is anarticle of footwear, wherein the structure includes a tongue of thearticle of footwear, and wherein the second antenna is located in thetongue.

In Example 12, a system optionally includes a first external antennatuned to communicate with a first antenna of an article of apparelaccording to a first wireless communication modality while the articleof apparel is being worn, a second external antenna tuned to communicatewith a second antenna of the article of apparel according to a secondwireless communication modality different than the first communicationmodality, a transceiver, operatively coupled to at least one of thefirst antenna and the second antenna, configured to communicate via oneof the first and second antennas based, at least in part, on the one ofthe first and second antennas coming into wireless communication contactwith a corresponding one of the first and second external antennas andreceive, from the article of apparel, a unique identifier of the articleof apparel, and a computing device configured to receive the uniqueidentifier and cause a user interface to provide a message based, atleast in part, on the unique identifier.

In Example 13, the system of Example 12 optionally further includes thatthe computing device is further configured to cause the user interfaceto provide the message based on the at least one of the first antennaand the second antenna that conies into wireless communication contactwith the corresponding one of the first and second antennas.

In Example 14, the system of any one or more of Examples 12 and 13optionally further includes that the computing device is configured tocause the user interface to provide a public message based on wirelesscommunication via the first antenna and a private message based onwireless communication via the second antenna.

In Example 15, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-14optionally further includes that the first wireless communicationmodality is an ultra high frequency (UHF) communication modality.

In Example 16, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-15optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the first external antenna is positioned on atleast one of a wall and a ceiling.

In Example 17, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-16optionally further includes that the second wireless communicationmodality is a high frequency (HF) communication modality.

In Example 18, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-17optionally further includes that the second external antenna ispositioned within approximately one (1) foot of a walking surface.

In Example 18, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-17optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the second external antenna is positioned within atleast one of a walking surface and a floor mat configured to be walkedon by the article of apparel.

In Example 19, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-18optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the second external antenna is positioned within atleast one of a walking surface and a floor mat configured to be walkedon by the article of apparel.

In Example 20, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-19optionally further includes that wherein a plurality of second externalantennas are positioned within the at least one of the walking surfaceand the floor mat and each of the plurality of second external antennasare configured to communicate with the second antenna.

In Example 21, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-20optionally further includes that the second external antenna correspondsto a discrete location and wherein, upon the transceiver communicatingwith the second antenna via the second external antenna, the article ofapparel is determined to be substantially at the discrete location.

In Example 22, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-21optionally further includes the user interface, wherein the userinterface is positioned in proximity of the discrete location, whereinthe computing device is configured to cause the message to be displayedbased on the article of apparel being substantially at the discretelocation.

In Example 23, the system of any one or more of Examples 12-22optionally further includes a plurality of transceivers, including thetransceiver, coupled to the computing device, wherein a first one of theplurality of transceivers is coupled to the first external antenna andconfigured to communicate according to the first wireless modality and asecond one of the plurality of transceivers is coupled to the secondexternal antenna and configured to communicate according to the secondwireless modality.

In Example 24, a method optionally includes enclosing, with a structureof an article of apparel, a human body part, communicating wirelessly,using a transceiver, with a first antenna, positioned with respect tothe structure, while the article of apparel is being worn, according toa first wireless communication modality with a first external antenna,based on the first antenna coming into wireless communication contactwith the first external antenna, and communicating wirelessly, using thetransceiver, with a second antenna, positioned with respect to thestructure, tuned to communicate according to a second wirelesscommunication modality with a second external antenna different than thefirst external antenna, the second communication modality beingdifferent than the first communication modality, based on the secondantenna coming into wireless communication contact with the secondexternal antenna.

In Example 25, the method of Example 24 optionally further includes thatthe first wireless communication modality is an ultra high frequency(UHF) communication modality.

In Example 26, the method of any one or more of Examples 24 and 25optionally further includes that the second wireless communicationmodality is a high frequency (HF) communication modality.

In Example 27, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-26optionally further includes storing, with a processor, in an electronicdata storage, a unique identifier associated with the article ofapparel, and transmitting, using the transceiver, the unique identifierupon communicating via the one of the first and second antennas.

In Example 28, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-27optionally further includes storing, with the processor, in theelectronic data storage, information generated by the use of the articleof apparel related to the use of the article of apparel.

In Example 29, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-28optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the indication generated by the use of the articleof apparel are steps taken in the article of footwear.

In Example 30, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-29optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear, wherein the structure includes a heel of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the heel.

In Example 31, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-30optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear, wherein the structure includes a sole of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the sole.

In Example 32, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-31optionally further includes that the article of apparel comprises adecorative element comprising the first antenna.

In Example 33, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-32optionally further includes that the decorative element furthercomprises the second antenna.

In Example 34, the method of any one or more of Examples 24-33optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear, wherein the structure includes a tongue of the article offootwear, and wherein the second antenna is located in the tongue.

In Example 35, a method optionally includes communicating, using atransceiver and a first external antenna, with a first antenna of anarticle of apparel according to a first wireless communication modalitywhile the article of apparel is being worn based, at least in part, onthe first antenna coming into wireless communication contact with thefirst external antenna, communicating, using a transceiver and a secondexternal antenna, with a second antenna of the article of apparelaccording to a second wireless communication modality different than thefirst communication modality based, at least in part, on the secondantenna coming into wireless communication contact with the second.external antenna, receiving, with a computing device, from the articleof apparel, via the transceiver, a unique identifier of the article ofapparel, and causing, with the computing device, a user interface toprovide a message based, at least in part, on the unique identifier.

In Example 36, the method of Example 35 optionally further includescausing, with the computing device, the user interface to provide themessage based on at least one of the first antenna and the secondantenna that conies into wireless communication contact with thecorresponding one of the first and second antennas.

In Example 37, the method of any one or more of Examples 35 and 36optionally further includes causing, with the computing device the userinterface to provide a public message based on wireless communicationvia the first antenna and a private message based on wirelesscommunication via the second antenna.

In Example 38, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-37optionally further includes that the first wireless communicationmodality is an ultra high frequency (UHF) communication modality.

In Example 39, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-38optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the first external antenna is positioned on atleast one of a wall and a ceiling,

In Example 40, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-39optionally further includes that the second wireless communicationmodality is a high frequency (HF) communication modality.

In Example 41, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-40optionally further includes that the second external antenna ispositioned within approximately one (1) foot of a walking surface.

In Example 42, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-41optionally further includes that the article of apparel is an article offootwear and wherein the second external antenna is positioned within atleast one of a walking surface and a floor mat configured to be walkedon by the article of apparel.

In Example 43, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-42optionally further includes that a plurality of second external antennasare positioned within the at least one of the walking surface and thefloor mat and each of the plurality of second external antennas areconfigured to communicate with the second antenna.

In Example 44, the method of any one or more of Examples 35-43optionally further includes that the second external antenna correspondsto a discrete location and further comprising determining, upon thetransceiver communicating with the second antenna via the secondexternal antenna, the article of apparel to be substantially at thediscrete location.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or ina transmission signal) or hardware modules. A “hardware module” is atangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a groupof processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware module that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

In some embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware module may be a special-purpose processor, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware module may alsoinclude programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configuredby software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwaremodule may include software encompassed within a general-purposeprocessor or other programmable processor. It will be appreciated thatthe decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations.

Accordingly, the phrase “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. As used herein,“hardware-implemented module” refers to a hardware module. Consideringembodiments in which hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g.,programmed), each of the hardware modules need not be configured orinstantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where a hardwaremodule comprises a general-purpose processor configured by software tobecome a special-purpose processor, the general-purpose processor may beconfigured as respectively different special-purpose processors (e.g.,comprising different hardware modules) at different times. Software mayaccordingly configure a processor, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware module at one instance of time and to constitute adifferent hardware module at a different instance of time.

Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiplehardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achievedthrough signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses)between or among two or more of the hardware modules. In embodiments inwhich multiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware modules may beachieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of informationin memory structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access.For example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions describedherein. As used herein, “processor-implemented module” refers to ahardware module implemented using one or more processors.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, a processor being an example of hardware. Forexample, at least some of the operations of a method may be performed byone or more processors or processor-implemented modules. Moreover, theone or more processors may also operate to support performance of therelevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a “softwareas a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations maybe performed by a group of computers (as examples of machines includingprocessors), with these operations being accessible via a network (e.g.,the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., anapplication program interface (API)).

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine,but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments,the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other exampleembodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modulesmay be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Some portions of this specification are presented in terms of algorithmsor symbolic representations of operations on data stored as bits orbinary digital signals within a machine memory (e.g., a computermemory). These algorithms or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing artsto convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Asused herein, an “algorithm” is a self-consistent sequence of operationsor similar processing leading to a desired result. In this context,algorithms and operations involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, but not necessarily, such quantities may take theform of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of beingstored, accessed, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwisemanipulated by a machine. It is convenient at times, principally forreasons of common usage, to refer to such signals using words such as“data,” “content,” “bits,” “values,” “elements,” “symbols,”“characters,” “terms,” “numbers,” “numerals,” or the like. These words,however, are merely convenient labels and are to be associated withappropriate physical quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using wordssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,”“presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions orprocesses of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transformsdata represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical)quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory,non-volatile memory, or any suitable combination thereof), registers, orother machine components that receive, store, transmit, or displayinformation. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, theterms “a” or “an” are herein used, as is common in patent documents, toinclude one or more than one instance. Finally, as used herein, theconjunction “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or,” unless specificallystated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable article, comprising: a structureconfigured to enclose a human body part; a first antenna, positionedwith respect to the structure, tuned to communicate, while the wearablearticle is being worn, according to a first wireless communicationmodality with a first external antenna; a second antenna, positionedwith respect to the structure, tuned to communicate according to asecond wireless communication modality with a second external antennadifferent than the first external antenna, the second communicationmodality being different than the first communication modality; and atransceiver, operatively coupled to at least one of the first antennaand the second antenna, configured to communicate via one of the firstand second antennas; a controller, operatively coupled to thetransceiver, configured to: receive an output signal from thetransceiver from one of the first and second antennas; determine thatthe signal from the transceiver is a valid communication signal andindicative that one of the first and second antennas has come intowireless communication contact with a corresponding one of the first andsecond external antennas; and upon determination of the validcommunication signal, cause the transceiver to activate the one of thefirst and second antennas and deactivate the other of the first andsecond antennas and communicate between the activated one of the firstand second antennas and the corresponding one of the first and secondexternal antennas.
 2. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein the firstwireless communication modality is an ultra high frequency (UHF)communication modality.
 3. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein thesecond wireless communication modality is a high frequency (HF)communication modality.
 4. The wearable article of claim 1, furthercomprising an electronic data storage, operatively coupled to thetransceiver and the controller, the electronic data storage configuredto store a unique identifier associated with the wearable article, andwherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the unique identifierupon communicating via the one of the first and second antennas.
 5. Thewearable article of claim 4, wherein the electronic data storage isfurther configured to store information generated by the use of thewearable article related to the use of the wearable article.
 6. Thewearable article of claim 5, wherein the wearable article is an articleof footwear and wherein the indication generated by the use of thewearable article are steps taken in the article of footwear.
 7. Thewearable article of claim 1, wherein the wearable article is an articleof footwear, wherein the structure includes a heel of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the heel.
 8. Thewearable article of claim 1, wherein the wearable article is an articleof footwear, wherein the structure includes a sole of the article offootwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in the sole.
 9. Thewearable article of claim 1, wherein the wearable article comprises adecorative element comprising the first antenna.
 10. The wearablearticle of claim 9, wherein the decorative element further comprises thesecond antenna.
 11. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein thewearable article is an article of footwear, wherein the structureincludes a tongue of the article of footwear, and wherein the secondantenna is located in the tongue.
 12. A method, comprising: enclosing,with a structure of a wearable article, a human body part; thenreceiving, with a controller, via a transceiver, an output signal fromthe transceiver from one of a first antenna and a second antenna, thefirst and second antennas positioned with respect to the structure, thefirst antenna configured to communicate wirelessly according to a firstwireless communication modality with a first external antenna the secondantenna tuned to communicate according to a second wirelesscommunication modality with a second external antenna different than thefirst external antenna, the second communication modality beingdifferent than the first communication modality determining, with thecontroller, that the signal from the transceiver is a validcommunication signal and indicative that one of the first and secondantennas has come into wireless communication contact with acorresponding one of the first and second external antennas; and upondetermination of the valid communication signal, cause the transceiverto activate the one of the first and second antennas and deactivate theother of the first and second antennas and communicate between theactivated one of the first and second antennas and the corresponding oneof the first and second external antennas.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the first wireless communication modality is an ultra highfrequency (UHF) communication modality.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the second wireless communication modality is a high frequency(HF) communication modality.
 15. The method of claim 12, storing, withthe controller, in an electronic data storage, a unique identifierassociated with the wearable article, and transmitting, using thetransceiver, the unique identifier upon communicating via the one of thefirst and second antennas.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising storing, with the processor, in the electronic data storage,information generated by the use of the wearable article related to theuse of the wearable article.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thewearable article is an article of footwear and wherein the indicationgenerated by the use of the wearable article are steps taken in thearticle of footwear.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the wearablearticle is an article of footwear, wherein the structure includes a heelof the article of footwear, and wherein the first antenna is located inthe heel.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the wearable article is anarticle of footwear, wherein the structure includes a sole of thearticle of footwear, and wherein the first antenna is located in thesole.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the wearable article comprisesa decorative element comprising the first antenna.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the decorative element further comprises the secondantenna.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein the wearable article is anarticle of footwear, wherein the structure includes a tongue of thearticle of footwear, and wherein the second antenna is located in thetongue.